Seatbelts are thought to have helped prevent serious injury in a crash which partially blocked a major highway intersection north of Napier today.
The crash involved two cars and happened just after 11am at the intersection of State Highways 2 and 5, locally known as the Taupo turnoff on the Napier-Wairoa road and between Bay View and Whirinaki.
Police said one of the cars turning into SH5 failed to give way to an oncoming vehicle, causing minor injuries to the seven occupants of the cars, thought to be from Waikato and Hawkes Bay, and thought to include one teenager. The others are believed to be all over 20.
The seven were examined by the St John Ambulance Service and a pregnant woman was among those taken from the scene for treatment. She was not thought to have any significant injury.
One officer who had been at the scene said several spoke of bruising caused by their seatbelts during the crash.
